Joe Lunardi has released his first Bracketology projection for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and Kentucky is in a promising spot. The Wildcats are currently slated as a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, where they would face No. 15 seed North Alabama in the first round in St. Louis. If Kentucky advances, they would likely meet either No. 7 seed Illinois or No. 10 seed Creighton in the second round. The potential matchup against Illinois would be a rematch of this year’s second round, with the added intrigue of former Wildcats and Arkansas Razorback Zvonimir Ivisic now playing for the Fighting Illini.
Beyond the second round, the Sweet 16 could feature No. 3 seed Iowa State or No. 6 seed Missouri, and the Elite Eight could see a showdown against No. 1 seed Purdue, No. 4 seed Auburn, or No. 5 seed Louisville. A potential Final Four clash between Kentucky and Louisville would be a thrilling spectacle, given the longstanding rivalry.
Lunardi’s Bracketology also reveals that Kentucky is currently ranked among the top teams in the nation. Purdue leads as the overall No. 1 seed, followed by Houston, Duke, and St. John’s. Kentucky joins Michigan, BYU, and UConn as No. 2 seeds. The SEC is well-represented with 13 teams in Lunardi’s initial field, including No. 3 seeds Florida and Tennessee.
While it’s still early — with 339 days until Selection Sunday — Lunardi’s projections will undoubtedly evolve, and the Kentucky Wildcats are positioned for a strong season. If Kentucky progresses, they’ll play their games in St. Louis and Chicago, with the Final Four in Indianapolis, a city that has been unkind to Kentucky in recent years but offers a chance for redemption.
As for Kentucky’s roster, changes are expected. The Wildcats are still working to finalize their lineup, with transfer guard Ryan Forrest from North Carolina A&T and Miami transfer Divine Ugochukwu in the mix. Despite the uncertainty, Kentucky remains a preseason top-15 team in national rankings, with players like Otega Oweh, who is currently in the NBA Draft process, expected to make an impact next season.
